Injector mechanism



Demll, 1951 R. w. BAILEY EI'AL l e e h s 5 t e e h s 3 O 5 9 1 7 t p e s d e l 1 F INVENTOR. 3131 -5). Th/arms FAUAL.

Roy a1 JOHN m' ramvy.

Dec. 11, 1951 R. w. BAILEY Er. AL

INJECTOR MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1950 INVENTOR.

,m L U mm ,1. v 2 M 8m R .H a w? T T PW A 0 0 Y B Dec. 11, 1951 R. w. BAILEY ETAL INJECTOR MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. '7, 1950 1.

INVENTOR.

L K E F K M 5 A N am R 0 MM w VIN m A J Patented Dec. 11, 1951 INJECTOR MECHANISM Roy W. Bailey and John Thomas Faull, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Detroit Power Screwdriver Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September '7, 1950, Serial No. 188,638

10 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel injection mechanism for inserting a part such as a nut into a driving member such as a bit or wrench. Machines for injecting and driving nuts in this manner are shown in our U. S. Patent No. 2,509,123 of May 23, 1950 and in our co-pending application Serial No. 102,343, filed June 30, 1949. This application is a continuation-in-part of the co-pending application, and reference to both disclosures may be made for a more detailed understanding of the construction and operation of the entire machine.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a simpler means of operating the injector. The injector assembly, in all cases, includes a slide carrying a pair of jaws which receive the part to be injected into the bit or wrench. It will be assumed that this part is a nut. The slide is actuated to bring the nut into alinement with the bit, and the nut is then injected into the bit. For this operation a rocker arm is actuated against a slidable injector pin which transfers the nut to the bit. Thus, there are two movements in the operation of the injector assembly, namely, the displacement of the slide and next the actuation of the rocker arm. In the aforementioned patentthese movements are accomplished by two cams and in the co-pending application by a fluid cylinder and an electro-magnet.

In the present invention the slide and rocker arm are actuated by simpler means. A fluid cylinder displaces a block which in turn is connected non-rigidly to the slide to allow relative movement between these parts although the block moves the slide in both directions. The block carries a cam which operates the rocker arm when the block and slide have reached their fully advanced position.

Another object of the invention is to provide resiliency in the movement of the slide and cam to avoid breakageof parts if the apparatus becomes blocked, as by a nut remaining in the bit or by an over-thickness nut finding its way to the jaws. In the case of the slide,- the latter is drivenfrom the blockthrough a coil spring. Similarly the block actuates the cam through a coil spring. In either case an obstruction in.

the machine merely causes compression of one spring or the other without breaking any of the machine parts.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

=Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of the injection mechanism;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing. the slide retracted;

Figure 3 is a section-on the line 3--3 of- Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and .1

Figure 6 is a similar view in the retracted position of the slide.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

A housing 90 is mounted to extend laterally from the column of a machine and over the table thereof as shown in the aforementioned disclosures. A spindle 41 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in one end of the housing and. carries at one end a friction clutch 96 as in. the co-pending application. From the clutch hangs a bit or wrench 98 adapted to receive a. nut or other part which is to be assembled on a work piece. A track 21 delivers the nuts to mechanism within the housing 90, and this mechanism inserts the nut in the bit 98 as will presently be shown. Y 7

The spindle 41 is surrounded by a collar .93. which is held by. a lock plug 94. In the collar; is slidably mounted a positioning pin 95 backed, by a sprin 95 and adapted to be engaged by a stop shoulder 91 on the clutch housing 96. The pin thus assures a constant stop position for the bit 98 when being loaded.

The floor I00 of the housing 90 is formed with a longitudinal recess I 0| in which. is mounted a slide I02. The slide is also formed with a longitudinal slot I03 in which is mounted an injector lever I04, in the nature of a rocker.

arm, on a pivot pin I05. A guide plate I06 is fastened upon theslide over. the forward end of the lever I04. -An interposed coil spring I01 tends to hold this end downward. Beneath this end is a removable wear plate I08 fastened to the floor I00. 1

The guide plate I06 is formed with a shouldered opening I09-in which is slidably mounted a shouldered injector pin H0. Beneath the plate [06. the pin H0 is slotted at III to receive the for-' ward end of the lever I04. This end of the lever is forked at II2 to receive a cross pin H3 that bridges the slot III. Y

To the housing is. secured a vertical mounting block I20 opposite the discharge end of the track 21, which lies somewhat rearward of the spindle 41, for a. purpose that will presently appear. On the plate I06 is located and secured a mounting plate I2I for a longitudinally ex;

3 tending jaw I22 fastened to the plate I06 and adapted to traverse the discharge end of the track on movement of the slide I02. A compleinentary jaw I23 opposing the jaw I22 is independently ,mounted and carries a finger I24 lying parallel to the slide I02. The jaw' I23 also carries a pin I25 extending into a slot I26 cut lengthwise in the plate I2I. bears against the pin I25 at one end of the slot and tends to move the jaw I23 toward the jaw I22. A retaining plate I 28 secured horizontally on the upper end of'the block 120 holds down the finger I24. The plate I2I is also.

in the block and screwed on a threaded end I31 of the piston rod. Gibs I30 are mounted on the floor of the housing 90 along the edges of the slot III and extend into slots-I39 along the lower edges of the block'j'34 for supporting and guiding the latter.

The slide I02 is formed with a vertical recess I40 'behlndthe slot I03. In this recess is mounted, with considerable lengthwise play, a coupling plug ,I4I fastened to the underside of the block I34 by a screw I42. The forward side of the plug I 4I is engaged by a coilspring I43 lying and seated lengthwise in the slide. In the bottom of the slide I02 is.cut a lengthwise slot that forms a rear shoulder I45 and a forward shoulder I46 at opposite sides of the plug MI. The slide is limited in its forward movement by engagement of the shoulder I45. with astop I41 in the floor I and is limited in its rearward movement by engagement of the shoulderI46 with the stop I41.

, The forward end of the block I34 is formed with. a vertical slot I40 in which is pivotally suspended a cam I49 by a cross pin I50 at is upper end. The cam bears forwardly against a cross pin I! under the action of a coil spring I52 seated lengthwise in the block I34. The inclined cam surface I53 of the member I 49 rises on a similar complementary surface I 54 on the rear end of the rocker ar I04.

The jaw members I 22 and I23are replaceable in various thicknesses for various sizes. of nuts. The structure for holding down and guiding the jaw I22 is comprised of side plates or gibs I55 slotted vertically at I56 and fastened .by bolts I51 to the sides of the housing 90, with a cross plate I59 secured u on their upper .ends by bolts I59 and engaging the upper surface of the plate I22.

In the operation of the device, the block I54 and slide I02 in retracted position bring the jaws I22 and I23 in line with the track 21 to receive a nut therefrom, as shown in Figure 6. It will be seen that the track lies. rearwardly and laterally of the bit 98.

As the block I34 is advanced by pressure in the cylinder I30, the spring I43 is compressed by the plug I4I until it has sufflclent rigidity to move the slide I02 or until the plug engages the forward end of the opening I40. The slide is thus advanced with the plug I34, and the rocker arm I04 moves along with the slide until the shoulder I45 engages the stop I41. However, there is relative movement between the block I34 and the rocker arm because of the play of the plug A coil spring I2].

HI in the recess I40 and the compression of the spring I43. The spring I52 holds the cam I49 against the pin I5I and causes the cam surface I53 to ride on the surface I54. The forward end of the rocker arm I04 isthereby lifted, raising :the'injector pin I I0 and transferring the nut from the jaws into the bit 98. The pressure in the cylinder I30 is now reversed to retract the slide and the jaws and the loaded bit 98 is brought down to the work as described in the aforementioned patent and application.

If the normal forward movement of the slide is obstructed the continuing forward movement of the plug I4I will be taken up by compression of the spring I43. In such case, or if the normal rocking of the arm I04 is obstructed, the continuing forward movement of the cam I49 will be taken up by compression of the spring I52, so that a breakage of parts is avoided in each case.

It will be noted thatthe injector pin I I0 should not rise until the end of the forward stroke. The cam surface I54 is somewhat ahead of the surface I53 until the end of the stroke because of the clearance of the plug III in the opening I and the resulting incomplete compressionof the spring I43 until the slide has nearlycompleted its forward stroke. As the stroke is completed the cam I49 rides upon the surface I54 and rocks the arm I04.

The spring I52 performs the additional functioning of accommodating a range of thicknesses of work pieces to be ejected from the jaws I22,

I23. It is evident that the stroke of the injector pin IIO must be longer for greater thicknesses of work pieces. In a given size of machine, a given spring I 52 is suitable for nuts or other work pieces varying in thickness from M," to In other words, a 's" piece can be thrown out of the jaws with this spring. With a thinner piece between the jaws, the stroke of the pin H0 is shorter, and the difference in movement is taken up by compression of the spring I52. In this connection it will be understood that the upward stroke of the pin I I0 is stopped by the seating of the work piece in the bit 98. The

stroke of the block I34, however, is constant, and the spring I52 compresses against the arrested cam I 49.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An in ector mechanism comprising a housing, a slide therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to eject a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for engaging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for the movement of said slide in both directions, said drive means being yieldable in the forward movement of said block whereby to permit some additional forward movement of the block after the forward motion of said slide has been stopped by said limiting means, and a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm onforward movement of said block.

2. An injector mechanism comprising a housing, a slide therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a

rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to ejecta piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for engaging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for, the movement of said slide in both directions, said drive means having clearance in said slide in the direction of slide movement, and a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block.

-3. An injector mechanism comprising a housing, a slide therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to eject a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for engaging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for the movement of said slide in both directions, a compressibl e spring between said drive means and said slide on the forward side of said means, and a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block.

4. An in ector mechanism comprising a housing, a sli e therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to e ect a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for en aging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for the movement of said slide in both directions, said drive means having clearance in said slide in the direction of slide movement, a compressible spring between said drive means and said slide on the forward side of said means, and a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block.

5. An in ector mechanism comprising a housing, a slide therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to eject a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for engaging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for the movement of said'slide in both directions, said drive means being yieldable in the forward movement of said block whereby to permit some additional forward movement of the block after the forward motion of said slide has been stopped by said limiting means, a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block, said cam being movable in said block in the direction of slide travel, and a spring in block and cam and compressible in the forward direc tion of slide travel.

' its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to eject a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for engaging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for the movement of said slide in both directions, said drive means having clearance in said slide in the direction of slide movement, a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block, said cam being yieldably mounted in said block.

'7. An injector mechanism comprising a housing, a slide therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to eject a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for engaging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for the movement of said slide in both directions, a compressible spring between said drive means and said slide on the forward side of said means, a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block, said cam being yieldably mounted in' said block.

8. An injector mechanism comprising a housing, a slide therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to eject a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, drive means carried by said block for engaging said slide in both directions of travel, limiting means for the movement of said slide in both directions, said drive means having clearance in said slide in the direction of slide movement, a compressible spring between said drive means and said slide on the forward side of same means, a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block, said cam'being yieldably mounted in said block.

9. An injector mechanism comprising a housing, said drive means being yieldable in the forward movement of said block whereby to permit some additional forward movement of the block after the forward motion of said slide has been stopped by said limiting means, a slide therein, a pair of spaced jaws carried by said slide for receiving a work piece, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said jaws, means on said end adapted to eject a piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, said slide having an opening, a plug extending from said block into said opening with lengthwise clearance therein and adapted to engage the ends of said opening to drlvesai'd slide in either direction, a eompreesibil spring between said plug and said slide on the forward side of said plug, and a cam carried by said block and adapted to exert pressure on the remaining end of said rocker arm on forward movement of said block.

10. An injector mechanism comprising a housing, fa slide therein, a. pair of spaced jaws currled by said slide for receiving a work piece, a

' rocker arm pivotally mounted on said slide and having its forward end disposed in line with the space between said Jaws, means 'on said end adapted to ejecta piece from said jaws, a block slidably mounted in said housing at said slide, means for oscillating said block, said slide having an opening, a plug extending from said biock into said opening with lengthwise clearance herein and adapted to engage the ends of said opening to drive said slide in either direction, a

ward movement of said block, said cam being yieldably mounted in said block.

ROY W. BAILEY. JOHN THOMAS FAULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 722,479 Berger Mar. 10, 1903 2,385,521 Mead Sept 25, 1945 2,509,123 Bailey May 23, 1950 

